“In Argentina’s high-pressure 2022 World Cup opener, Messi calmly sends the Saudi keeper the wrong way from the spot to break the deadlock and launch what becomes his seventh World Cup goal and career strike number 787.”
In his opening match of what is framed as his last World Cup, Messi calmly starts Argentina’s campaign with a pressure-soaked penalty and leads the attack for 90 minutes, even as the shock defeat to Saudi Arabia turns this group-stage game into a pivotal twist in his 2022 journey.
In a World Cup final seen as his last chance at the trophy, Messi breaks the deadlock against France with an ice-cold penalty under immense pressure, setting Argentina on their way and recording his 12th World Cup strike and 792nd career goal.
In a World Cup semi-final against Croatia with Argentina’s campaign on a knife-edge, Messi calmly whips his penalty into the top corner to break the deadlock and move to 11 World Cup goals and 791 in his career.
In a frantic El Clásico at 3–3, Messi calmly pauses on the spot, waits for López to commit, then rolls the late penalty back across him to complete his hat-trick and restore Barça’s lead, sealing La Liga goal number 236 and career strike 384 under maximum pressure.
Against the Netherlands in a World Cup quarter-final, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 2–0 under immense pressure, a nerveless finish that also brings up his 10th World Cup goal.